Viasat, Gulfstream announce STC for inflight wifi on G280

The super-midsize Gulfstream G280 business jet is now certified to carry Viasat‘s inflight Ka-band connectivity solution. The two companies announced the receipt of FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the installation at the NBAA conference in Las Vegas this week.

Installation of the Viasat antenna hardware on a Gulfstream G280, part of the setup for the service testing.

Viasat is currently running in-service evaluations with “a number of Gulfstream G280 operators through January 2020” though the company did not identify how many planes have the kit installed today. Following successful completion of the trial the product is expected to be available for customer selection in Q1 2020.

Achieving STC approval demonstrates the flight worthiness of Viasat’s Ka-band in-flight connectivity equipment for use on super-midsize business jets. In working with Gulfstream we are now ready to bring faster internet speeds, more capacity for streaming and a forward-compatible connectivity solution to the skies. This system will allow any G280 owner to have an onboard internet access system with exceptional quality, performance and speed. Initial operator feedback from the ongoing evaluations has been positive, and we are excited to make Viasat’s Ka-band solution available to all G280 customers in the first quarter of 2020.

– Claudio D’Amico, business area director, Business Aviation, Viasat

Viasat touts the high capacity of the offering – up to 16Mbps on the entry level plan – as delivering streaming class service to passengers on board while still leaving capacity available for the crew to keep flight planning applications updating in real time. The connection is based on Viasat’s Global Aero Terminal 5510, which can communicate via the ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2, and Ka-SAT satellite platforms. It is also expected to be forward-compatible with Viasat’s future-generation satellite constellation, ViaSat-3, eventually delivering global (non-polar) coverage.

The Viasat antenna hardware sits atop the Gulfstream G280 tail

The Global Aero Terminal 5510 is a relatively light and compact solution. Made up of only three LRUs, it requires no space in the baggage compartment and minimal space in the non-pressurized portion of the aircraft. The lower overall system weight is also advantageous when considering fuel burn over the lifetime of the system.

About Seth Miller

Seth Miller has over a decade of experience covering the airline industry. With a strong focus on passenger experience, Seth also has deep knowledge of inflight connectivity and loyalty programs. He is widely respected as an unbiased commentator on the aviation industry.

He is frequently consulted on innovations in passenger experience by airlines and technology providers.